Karren Brady

Speaker Karren Brady is vice-chairman of West Ham United, was managing director Birmingham City FC, and stars in the UK version of The Apprentice. She was the first woman to break into the male dominated world of football when she took on the challenge at Birmingham City – the most senior position any woman had held in British football. On leaving Birmingham Karren was appointed Chairman to the England 2018 World Cup bid advisory board.

In September 2013 Karren Brady addressed the Conservative Party Conference on the topic of SMEs. Former Prime Minster David Cameron then appointed her as the government’s Small Business Ambassador. A year later she was elevated to the House of House as Baroness Brady.

Karren was voted Cosmopolitan’s Woman of the Year, and has been listed in the business category of The Sunday Telegraph’s ‘100 Most Powerful Women in Britain’, and was included in the Evening Standard’s list of ‘London’s 1000 Most Influential People’.

Karen’s unparalleled experience as a women in the world of business makes her a powerful speaker with practical ideas to communicate.

As Karren Brady explained to The Guardian:

“Any board executive can forget just how many people helped them get where they are. Those women who have got to the top need actively to ensure there is a pipeline of younger women, whether by networking or mentoring, who in turn are encouraging those below them. Women in the boardroom must not forget how many challenges and difficulties we have overcome, and we should share our coping strategies. It is critical to create opportunities to identify talented women in business, then support them to develop their confidence to aim for the boardroom. We need to look outside the corporate mainstream, at female entrepreneurs and self-employed businesswomen, who can inject different insights and diversity to any board.”

Karren Brady is available for a limited number of keynote appearances and in interview settings. Specialist Speakers presented Karren Brady for a major digital client on stage at Tottenham Hotspur’s White Hart Lane in conversation with Jason Mohammad in April 2024.

Photo of Lady Brady credit: UK Open Government Licence 3.0